Delivering a state-of-the-art SRC campus to Armagh 

Challenges

Located on Lonsdale Street in Armagh City, the two-stage (develop and build) project included 12,000 sqm of specialist accommodation, site clearance and removal of the existing college buildings and drainage, earthworks, site works, and landscaping.

SRC aspired for the school to become a positive impact on not just its students, but the local community as well. Whether it was the aesthetically pleasing site characteristics, the school’s economic potential, improved local amenities and utilities for residents, parking and safe pedestrian access, or public transport, a lot of factors would funnel into this overarching goal.

At the project’s core, however, a fully serviced campus building had to be constructed to facilitate world-class professional and technical education and training.

Solutions

In supporting procurement for the project, we helped create innovative approaches to delivering the project’s full potential. This included the appointment of a BIM change manager and the implementation of BIM Level 2 pre-dating the UK Government’s Construction 2025 strategy.

We also helped deliver on many creative requirements, including but not limited to the following:

• Incorporation of student graphic design and/or art work into the new building
• BIM-to-field technologies like DALUX BIM Viewer, allowing simultaneous 2D and 3D design information on mobile devices, as well as augmented reality viewing of the model on the ground.
• Implementation of incentivisation instead of penaltiesTime lapse cameras
• Engaging with the college for apprenticeship training
• Regular drone footage to complement progress reporting and payment assessments.

Results

Delivered to BIM Level 2 compliance and handed over six weeks early, the SRC Armagh Campus features 16 general classrooms, 16 information technology laboratories, and 48 specialist teaching spaces. The campus accommodates teaching across many specialist vocational areas. It also incorporates a central hall, learning resource centre, central administration, student and staff study, social areas, individual offices, counselling/interview rooms, storage, and more.

Within the heart of the building, an innovation centre now facilitates industry-related student projects using state-of-the-art technology and equipment. This innovation space has created an environment to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

Darren Price, project manager at Tetra Tech, said, “This was a highly technically challenging project that required us to manage many interlinking variables affecting students, staff, and the local community. The efficiency and quality of the delivered scheme is testament to the successful collaborative approach between Tetra Tech, SRC, and its partners.”

“The new SRC Armagh campus represents a major investment in dramatically improving educational and training attainment across the city and wider area and is part of our commitment to deliver first-class facilities and opportunities for everyone’s future,” said Brian Doran, Southern Regional College Chief Executive.

Armagh Campus won the GO Award for Procurement Innovation in 2018, in recognition of the successful early engagement and implementation of collaborative working arrangements.